why do mums of toddlers dress like they are going into battle?

[Pharoahnuff]

i know I think i did.
ALl bagged up, flat boots, look of grim determination. In my day it was all combat trousers, quilty gilets and timberlands.
now its ugly Fly boots and ill fitting skinnies

Although I always seem to get stuck behind overweight mum with 4 kids, cat hair clothes and unbrushed hair on the way to school. That hair that is down to bum but only because she hasn't had it cut since 2004.

I'm tempted everyday to shout

Oy missus it takes what? 2 mins to put a brush through your hair?

lol
i loathe overly long hair.
Reminds me of the line from Mean Girls when they talk about Gretchen Wieners hair
"Gretchen Wieners knows everybody's business, she knows everything about everyone.
Damian: That's why her hair is so big, it's full of secrets.

But all her girls have overly 'done' hair...why she doesn't just stick theirs in a ponytail and brush hers I don't know.

I love it when she stands next to 'mum who wears white PVC boots to school'

OBVIOUSLY i wouldnt judge - and well dont as I dont take my kids to school any more (YAY)
but brushing hair is a must

Because I like to be practical and I've forgotten how to dress any other way

Dress and thick tights is how I dress for an evening out. There's no help for me, is there?

no i TOTALLY agree - its a rut you get into. I think i make WAY more of an effort now than i did 10 years ago - partly because i have more time and also im getting OLDER and you need to

i do think every woman needs a " going out outfit" - even jsut a "Nice top"?
I remember looking at my stuff and there was workwear that was our ot date and MUM stuff

horrendous

Brush hair, moisturiser, concealer, mascara.

That is less than 5 mins. You could do it whilst the kettles boiling.

Ooh but I do brush my hair!

And obvious skin cancer issues aside, one 10 min sunbed a mth through nov-march works wonders.

lol at pantone - you will obviously be marched off Mn for that ;)

sunny just make sure you DO look in a mirror
basic slap
hair cut
and accessorise. I once met me old mucker @shoppingbagsundereyes in london and am PROUD that before meeting me she went into a shop to buy accessories as she KNEW id be after her ;)

Probably. But I won't be pasty white when it happens

She was terrified

i think i love you pantone.
and your mugs ;)

SHe was cacking her pants cybbo

This is why I lurk on s & b. why should dress in bleurghhhhh clothes just 'in case they are covered in snot and banana?'. I want out of my rut. I want to look pretty twirls

staggers and stumbles toe on an octonaut

It's not about vanity, I want to wear nice things and take pride in my appearance so I feel I have a semblance of control in the CHAOS. Looking rubbish is not a badge of honour.

I have an 18 m.o and I must admit, I still bother in the mornings, but less so than before. But ds can't stop me from having 5 mins to apply foundation, mascara, blush and eyebrow pencil, even if he is hanging off my legs. I don't want to scare people. I have always been a messy updo person anyway so I still do that. And my daily outfit is usually jumper, skinny jeans and ballet flats. But I must admit, when I get in the house from being out the skinnies come off and my slobby house trousers go on. I can't be crawling about on the floor in anything but comfy strides.

Ahem I have always worn boots jeans funky top for winter and flip flops for summer. The only change to my attire post offsprings is a lack of crop tops - for the benefit of the seeing public, not myself.

I love Mumsnet discussions as it usually feels like safe place where we're all just muddling through and doing the best we can. This one feels bitchy. Sometimes I don't have 'literally 5 minutes' because something happens that robs me of that time. I've always consoled myself that it doesn't matter, no one cares. Would appear that's totally not the case! Nice.

i think it IS bitchy

HTH

JoJoT I'm with you. This is bitchy. I don't quite get what the OP is getting at.

For what it's worth, I think pale is BEAUTIFUL anf Fly Boots are cool. I don't need make up because my self esteem is high enough to know that I look fine as I am, and even if I'm not looking great, so what, no one ever died of being scruffy....Life is to short to care what other people are wearing!

I don't always wear makeup and I'm proud of the fact that I don't feel I have to everyday. Sometimes I do when I feel like I look knackered or rubbish.

I hope I don't know anyone who thinks of me the way you do of others!

I prefer to look relaxed and comfortable if I'm not going to work, than overdone, vain and fashion victimy, from the looks of others I know and see around, they feel the same.

Lol
i like that scruffy is Caring mum
and smart is bitch mum

fantastic! :)

JojoT and Littlepurpleprincess, glad I'm not alone!

Even if it means that we are 5mins late for dropping ds1 at school, I am going to at least make some effort. I did once try to take him to school with dd1&2 wearing a mini dress and high heels. Never again: we had dd1 trying to run into the road, ds grabbing onto the hem - flashing a fair few strangers - to make me hurry up and me spending ages adjusting the handlebars of dd2s buggy because I was suddenly taller. So I can empathise with the need to wear sensible flat shoes and trousers. But there is no excuse for not brushing your hair and washing your face. Do not try to argue the toss over that. Makeup is difficult to apply with a toddler hanging on your arm but you don't need precision to brush your hair and wash your face. And yet the children always look immaculate.